Chapter 35
“Sure.”
The painter Diego worked busily under Aster’s command, beads of sweat dripping from his face.
Even though Aster was still young, the air of menace he gave off seemed to overwhelm him.
I was the same as the painter.
Just a while ago, I’d been fuming with anger — but now, I’d shrunk up like fur drenched in water.
Instead of protesting, I was dragged here and quietly ended up posing as a model for a portrait.
So this is what they call engagement first, portrait later.
I’d never heard of such a thing before, but apparently, my portrait must be taken to the Grand Duchy since we’re officially engaged.
“Uh, my lady, could you please turn your head this way?”
“O-oh… okay…”
Creak, creak.
At his request, I stiffly turned my head — but my eyes darted sideways like a flatfish.
I didn’t want to meet Aster’s gaze, watching from beside the painter.
Why is he even hovering there when he’s not the one painting?
Honestly, he was scary — but at the same time, it felt strange.
He was still just a young boy, too green to be called a killer.
Even so, I couldn’t bring myself to look him in the eye.
After all, I’d once shown him my adult self through an amplification spell.
Of course, since transformation magic was a forbidden art against the gods, he would never suspect it was me.
And because that was our past life, there’s no way he could recognize my adult appearance.
So rationally, it should’ve been fine — but instinct said otherwise.
Because I’d nearly died at his hands… more than once.
How could this be? That brat is my fiancé? Aaaagh!
“Uwaah! Stop! Just stop thinking about it!”
“My lady? Ah—understood! My apologies! The sketch is done, so I’ll be on my way now!”
Without realizing it, I’d shouted out loud.
Startled, the poor painter bolted from the room.
Still, I was grateful — because he’d wrapped up this dreadful situation for me.
Alright then, everyone out now, please.
“……”
Oh no.
He’s not leaving.
He’s staring at me.
He’s coming closer…!
U-uwah! Lord Juno!
We’re always stuck together, so why disappear only now?!
But honestly, I couldn’t blame him for not showing up.
After all, I’d smashed Juno’s tail when he refused to eat out of pride at being treated like a pest.
If he was somewhere sharpening his blade for revenge right now, I wouldn’t be surprised.
I’ll kneel and beg, just come back! You should be manifesting now, not later!
But the only thing that appeared was the sound of the boy’s footsteps — stopping right in front of me.
My whole body trembled; I couldn’t even lift my head.
Then he said, as if it didn’t matter,
“I’ve been waiting.”
“O-oh?”
Pardon? What was that, dear customer?
I answered with my best polite smile, trying to avoid conflict at all costs.
But then his reply made my heart drop with a thud.
“Don’t pretend you don’t know. Silver hair. Long hair. Woman.”
At those words, my head snapped up — and I found myself staring into those blood-red eyes, so much like that day in the past, when he’d finally caught me.
“I’ve finally found you, Jenna Madeline.”
In an instant, my mind went blank, remembering the gleam of joy in a predator’s eyes the moment it seizes its prey.
“W-What are you talking about? I really don’t know!”
Good.
That sounded natural.
I barely managed to stay calm as questions crowded my head.
Why was he looking for her from me? For what reason?
We’re nothing more than ex-cellmates now.
Tremble, tremble, tremble…
No matter how I tried to steady myself, I couldn’t stop shaking — memories of being hunted by him flooding back.
Then Aster muttered, “So you really did faint from that explosion…” and asked,
“The woman who saved you. You don’t remember? She told me to wait — but she never came.”
What? I told him to wait?
That’s ridiculous—
But then, I suddenly remembered shouting right after the moss-covered wall had exploded:
“Wait! I’ll come back for you too!”
Oh no. I did say that.
Unbelievable.
He actually took that one line seriously and waited for me? Sir Aster did?
Hard to believe… but, well — he is still just a child.
So, to sum it up: he doesn’t actually equate me with that woman, nor does he know our past.
He just thinks a mysterious woman rescued him when he passed out and promised to come back.
A sigh of relief escaped me.
That means there’s only one thing left to do:
Deny everything!
“No? Don’t remember. My daddy saved me.”
Feigning innocence, I blinked wide eyes as if speaking the truth.
But Aster’s eyes narrowed.
“That’s strange.”
“W-what is?”
He stepped closer, his crimson eyes gleaming with something sharp.
“In prison, you were so brazen. Why are you trembling now, my lady?”
“……!”
This perceptive brat.
He must’ve noticed my trembling hands hidden behind my back.
Since it had come to this, I ducked behind a chair and yelled,
“I-I was surprised, okay?! There’s no way Your Highness would be there! Why were you there?!”
I mean, it’s weird enough for a lady to be imprisoned — but a prince in a dungeon? How likely is that?
At my perfectly logical reasoning, he simply replied calmly,
“Mission. It failed because of that woman.”
Thud.
My knees gave out, and I fell back onto my rear.
Finally, the puzzle pieces fit together.
That’s why he’s so obsessed with my adult form.
In the North, the royal heirs had to prove their strength by earning fame across the continent.
The King of the North, Killian, had been the best mercenary and assassin.
His son — Aster — had been the empire’s top knight.
Aster, the flawless prodigy, never once failed a mission.
Until I appeared.
[ Sir Aster’s Ridiculous Failure — Fooled by a Legendary Con Artist! ]
That was the first headline with both our names on it.
He’d failed his mission — and failed to catch me.
The once-perfect heir had become a laughingstock, all because of me.
So… was history repeating itself, even after coming back in time?
Had I unknowingly triggered his wrath again?
Ah, great. Did I just ruin his reputation a second time?
Luckily, he’d turned away for now, convinced I wasn’t her.
But if I ever met him again as an adult — that same twisted fate might bind us once more.
I stared at the retreating back of the young predator and swore to myself:
Don’t get involved again. No matter what happens — not with him.
Inside the carriage back to the Duchy of Eberhardt.
Clip-clop, clip-clop.
Outside, the streets of the capital were bustling with people heading to work.
And inside the carriage, the atmosphere was just as intense.
It was like a food chain — eat or be eaten.
Lord Juno, his tail bandaged, glared at me.
I glared at the Duke.
Hiss!
[ You animal abuser…! ]
Duke, explain yourself! Right now!
Under our accusatory stares, the Duke finally spoke.
Ba-dum, ba-dum, ba-dum!
“This engagement is a contract.”
“Phew…”
I knew it!
Lord Juno was still bristling, but the Duke said the engagement was a tactical necessity and could be canceled anytime.
So my role in this operation would last only a year — the length of the contract.
What a relief.
After all, unless something extraordinary happened, childhood fiancés rarely met in person.
Right, it’s fine. I already have a fake dad and fake uncle. What’s one more fake fiancé on paper?
As I sighed in relief, Juno’s expression hardened.
[ You broke my tail for that phony engagement?! ]
Sigh… if only you knew how devilish that kid was in my past life…
But since I wasn’t planning to tell him, I just smiled as sweetly as possible and clasped my hands together.
Please forgive me, just this once?
Juno turned away sharply.
Sigh. So petty. This’ll last for days.
Watching our exchange with amusement, Master Jeanne spoke.
“By the way, Dein, is it okay for a child to know about this contract?”
It was a fair question — after all, children weren’t exactly great at keeping secrets.
But the Duke just stroked my head and said calmly,
“My daughter is smart.”
“…Oh?”
So touched…!
He actually trusted me!
Just like that, my earlier resentment vanished — replaced with a smile I could barely hide.
Master Jeanne beamed at us.
“How wonderful. Then, why not tell her about the plan we made yesterday?”
Plan? What plan?
I blinked and looked up at the Duke.
Now that I thought about it — Master Jeanne was accompanying us back to the duchy.
Why was that?
Was she part of this “plan”?
That was odd.
In my previous life, the Duke had never worked with anyone.
After losing his family, he’d cut off all human connections completely.
But this time was different.
Had he learned something from his meeting with the Emperor?
Or had he uncovered some scheme from Marquis Pascal at the banquet?
“No, you’ll find out when we arrive.”
Argh! Duke, tell me now! If I’d known, I wouldn’t have fainted at the banquet!
I bit my lip in frustration but couldn’t press him further.
The carriage rolled on until we reached the mansion.
When the Duke stepped out carrying me, Secretary Logan and the servants were already assembled in neat rows.
“Welcome back, Your Grace. My Lady! Oh? …Lady Arjeanne?”
Greeting me first, the secretary froze when he saw Jeanne.
The Duke spoke firmly.
“Logan.”
“Y-Yes, Your Grace?”
“Post a decree throughout the duchy immediately. We’re forming a new Order of Knights.”
“…!”
Both the secretary and I froze.
The Duke, who had always kept people at arm’s length, was now declaring he’d expand his ranks.
While I was still processing, Logan bowed deeply.
“As you command, Your Grace.”
As he turned away, I stood there blankly — until I felt someone’s gaze.
When I looked up slightly, I met a calm, gentle smile beneath eyes as blue as a sunlit lake.
Was it just my imagination?
It almost felt like all of this — the entire plan — was being made for me.
